Meet Our Family

Jessica Torriano

…meeting people from different parts of the world who are in the same boat as you are, makes the whole experience worthwhile…

Where are you now?

I am currently studying history and political science at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.

How, if at all, did the Empire help you get there?

My involvement in the Empire tournament acted as a phenomenal extracurricular on my application to university. Not many Canadians have competed in this tournament and for this reason, my experience at Empire gave me a competitive edge over other applicants to the universities I applied to.

What’s your favorite Empire moment?

My favourite moment was when my team won our first trial. I was a part of one of the two Canadian teams that participated in Empire in 2011. I remember how nervous and anxious we all were since we had to learn the American objections and other formalities that were different from those practiced in Canada. We knew we were going to be the underdogs in all of our trials and knowing this pushed all of us to work very hard in preparation for this competition. The fact that we won our first trial proved to us that we were capable of doing well in this tournament.

How would you describe the Empire to someone that has never been?

Empire is an amazing tournament that requires a great deal of hard work and preparation. However, participating in a mock trial in an actual court room and meeting people from different parts of the world who are in the same boat as you are, makes the whole experience worthwhile and something you would participate in over and over again.